European Swimming Championships: Gose swims to silver without a coach

Swimming without a Berkhahn is “unusual,” says Isabel Gose

The most important reason for the short trip across the Atlantic: Berkhahn wanted to take a look at the local conditions and the traffic routes at Belmont Shore in Long Beach. He was in constant contact with Gose, whose transition from open water to the pool went “better than expected”. “I’ll write to him straight away or give him a quick call,” announced the Olympic bronze medalist. Swimming without Berkhahn was “unusual,” she admitted: “But I made a good plan beforehand so that he also had the security, okay, Isabel knows what she has to do here during the week.” And the plan worked.

Gose, who had previously been crowned European champion in the knockout sprint and mixed relay in the Seine, also swam to the podium in the pool behind her Italian competitor Simona Quadarella, where her club colleague Werner stood with bronze around his neck. “It’s just nice,” said the 21-year-old, “we are training colleagues, friends – in and out of the water.”

When the two tackle Gose’s Olympic bronze discipline of 1500 meter freestyle on Thursday and Friday, Berkhahn should be back in Paris. “I think it’s coming on Thursday,” said Gose, who is currently also Europe’s number two behind her long-term rival Quadarella on the longest pool route. In the 400 meters, which concludes on Sunday, she is even the fastest European this year. So more medals are likely – then again with Berkhahn at the edge of the pool.